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Microsoft Civil Search Warrants Shut Down Rustock Botnet
On March 16, 2011, Microsoft Corporation and the U.S. Marshals executed civil search warrants on computers located at seven U.S. hosting facilities in order to bring down the notorious Rustock botnet, which was allegedly responsible for half of all Internet spam.
As reported on the “Microsoft On The Issues” blog, the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit helped coordinate the legal and physical attack to shut down the 26 command and control servers then used to manage the Rustock botnet. Interestingly, the Seattle court action to grant the civil search warrants relied on trademark infringement claims related to the abuse of Microsoft marks being connected to fake lottery scams and also counterfeit pharmaceutical sales.
Microsoft continues to work towards disinfecting the computers used in the botnet, and it is thought that servers seized in the raid will help gain more insight into the Rustock code.
For the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit press information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/5rd4q3u
For additional information visit:
http://tinyurl.com/Shutdown-of-Rustock-Botnet